Hot Learning in the Summertime
Why Summer Sessions Are Awesome
by Netanya Stutz

When I was an elementary school student, summer school was for the bad kids. While my reward for diligently practicing my spelling was a summer full of syndicated TV shows and trips to the beach, the kids who terrorized their teachers all year spent their breaks in the too-quiet halls of school making up for their poor grades. Fast-forward a couple of decades, and I found myself approaching my senior year of college. At the time, I was just three credits shy of graduating. Not wanting to take out a loan for another full semester, I discovered that college summer sessions are a godsend.

After taking a spin through the summer course catalog, I took a child psychology course. This had nothing to do with my writing major, but I was just looking for some credits to qualify me for graduation. However, there were a number of classes I could have taken, from speech pathology to writing.

If attending the same class for three months isn’t your idea of a good time, summer courses may fit your fast-paced educational demands. Most colleges have two sessions, so you’re in class for a little over a month. The lesson plans are rigorous since they jam a semester into a small time frame, but they’re done quickly. Also, most classes only meet a couple times a week, so you’ll still have ample time to work on your tan.

Another great aspect of a summer course is the cost. Since the courses are shorter, you pay less. During the regular academic year, Emerson College (my alma mater) charges $789 per credit. The summer courses run between $322 and $379 per credit, which is a considerable savings. Even if your educational budget isn’t limitless, you can still afford these classes, since many colleges and universities offer financial aid and scholarships. Check with your institution’s financial aid office for details. Had I learned that before my senior year, I could have finished my degree early or taken on a second major or a minor for a fraction of the price. Summer sessions are the Filenes’s Basement of education—it’s the same brand name, but much more affordable.

If college hasn’t started for you yet, summer courses are also a great idea. Many colleges have programs for high school seniors or recent graduates to start accumulating credits before they even buy their first pair of public shower flip-flops. This sets the college-bound up for being ahead of their peers. If you think you want to go into business, wouldn’t it be better to find out you hate it the summer before you start school, rather than paying for a whole semester of classes that end up doing nothing for you?

Even if you aren’t staying in Boston for the summer, check with your hometown’s community college or state university. It’s very possible that you can get some general education requirements out of the way to save the school year for your specialized courses. Also make sure your September-May college will accept the credits so your money isn’t wasted.

Summer school is not a punishment. Classes are generally cheaper during the warmer moths, making room for a minor or finishing a degree faster and cheaper. The sessions are short and classes only meet once or twice a week, so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the nice summer weather. A student who’s fresh out of high school can also take advantage of earning credits before their first kegger. Don’t let the summer—or summer courses—pass you by.